Property ownership document: One card-several benefits

• Property Card to be mandatory in the city from Dec 1st

Mangaluru: For the first time, the government has already implemented the Urban Property Ownership record – UPOR system in altogether four city corporation limits including Mangaluru. Property Card system provides a separate card to property owners in the city which will have the details relating the property documents of the owner.

The UPOR card will contain all the information regarding the ownership of the property including the important information in encrypted format. The system which is being implemented under the aegis of the Land, Revenue and Records Department will include the maps and ownership documents of the properties in the city.

The district administration has made property card compulsory for all properties within the city corporation limits from December 1^st. Henceforth, it will mandatory for property owners to possess property cards relating properties existing in the 32 revenue villages within the Mangaluru City corporation (MCC) limits.

The government had implemented this plan on an experimental basis in Mysuru, Shivamogga, Ballari and Hubballi-Dharwad districts in the state. The plan has been completed in Mysuru and is reaching completion in Shivamogga. The plan was started in Mangaluru in April 2012 and is being implemented along with the participation of a private institution.

What is a Property Card?

The property card which is being called a document for ownership of property in the city is a computerized document. It will include information regarding the property format, property documents, debt and other liabilities and property map details. The card will also bear information including the city’s name, ward name, ward number and owner’s name. Every individual property will have a unique number and barcode. This will provided to the owners of the property under the (83) (2) section 12 of the Karnataka land revenue act 1966.

Card preparation process

Initially, a notice will be sent to all property owners. All properties will be identified, measurements and map will be created, the properties will be photographed, ownership documents will be collected, inspection, scanning and documentation of the details following which an investigation process will be conducted under the leadership of the department post which a draft property card will be created and distributed amongst the property owners. The owners can rectify any errors within 30 days by providing relevant documents. If in case there is any problem regarding the property an inquiry will be initiated. A team of four including one superintendent and 3 tahsildars will be conducting the inquiry. During the property documentation process, all 10 fingers biometric information will also be collected.

In this way along with the collection of all the information regarding the property, complete information of the owner will also be documented and thus the card will be created in a proper method. After all the phases are completed, the property card will be distributed amongst the property owners after collection of the prescribed fee. This card will contain information regarding the property format, property documents, debt and other liabilities, property map and special number.    

Land dealings will simplify

The map will be provided with information including the measurements, ownership and borders. The information documented will be as per the source documents. This will also be linked to the Land and Kaveri online system. Property owners can get legitimate property documents along with the map. Transfer of property rights will become easy. After the sale, transfer of ownership will be done quickly through the use of software. The buyer will get clear information regarding the debt, liabilities associated with the property through the card.

Prevention of irregularities

The property card will have a precise site map, orderly claim documents and will be registered in the Urban Property database. The property management system will provide quick connection with the registration department, law department and the local administration bodies. Hence, during the sale of properties, the possibility of cheating is prevented.  It will be impossible to sell and register a property by providing bogus property papers. Illegally registration activity will also be controlled. In the place of biometrics, only the property owner can provide fingerprints. Therefore, irregularities can be prevented during the sale of property and change of ownership.

Processes to gain pace

“Urban Property Ownership Record is a complete property document. The process of linking this with the land, Kaveri is being conducted. The provision of property card is going to give pace to the processes,” said B K Kusumadhar, Property Card Planning Commissioner.

Article by Keshav Kunder translated into English by Aaron Dmello